Method and apparatus for installing cesspools or the like



March 1959 w. c. WILCOX, SR 2,879,648

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CESS POOLS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb.24, 195 v ZSheet 1 I5 l H1 du uuhhh.

HI I I3 1] 6 I II Ill 0 I ll 0 mmvron WALTER c wlLconse.

Arromsvs March 31, 1959 w. c. WILCOX, sR 2,379,648

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLING CESSPOOLS OR THE LIKE Fild Feb. 24.1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

WALTER c.wn.cox', sp.

United States Patent 2,s7'9,648 MErHob AND APPARATUS FOR INSTALLINGCESSPOOLS on THE LIKE Walter C. Wilcox, Sn, Canoga Park, Calif.Application February 24, 1956, Serial No. 567,654 7 Claims. (CI. 6163)This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming andpositioning a sectional wall within a well hole, and more particularlyto a method and apparatus for lowering cesspool blocks or the like downinto a well hole in a preformed position.

I Present day cesspool installation procedure requires the lowering of aman into the well hole to manually place and fit the blocks or wallsections around the well side walls. As a consequence of this procedure,it is necessary to provide another man at the top of the well hole onthe ground level to lower additional blocks as the wall structure isprogressively completed upwardly to the top of the well. It will beappreciated that this meth od of installation is cumbersome as well astime consuming, and additionally that a safety hazard results from thepossibility of a man or tools falling into the well hole while thecesspool is being formed.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus of pre-forming a sectional wall above ground level andthereafter lowering the wall into position within a well hole withoutthe necessity of manual labor being performed within the well holeitself.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus in accordance with the preceding object eliminating dangerspresently inherent in cesspool installation methods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for pre-forming and positioning a sectional wall Within a wellhole, which will enable more precise and stable positioning of thesectional wall structure.

"A still further object of the present invention is to provide a methodand apparatus for pre-forming and positioning a sectional wall within awell hole, which will result in a considerable savings of time incontrast to conventional methods now used, and in which the apparatusmay be simply manufactured and maintained while still complying with therugged structural requirements for equipment in this field.

These and other objects of the present invention are generally achievedby a method which comprises prestacking or pre-forming and holding thesectional wall above the ground level about a given diameter cylindricalfixture or gauge, in accordance with the inner finished diameter desiredfor the sectional walls. Thereafter, the sectional wall is supported onradial adjustable means, and the radially adjustable means are thenlowered into the well, while the fixture remains stationary to serve asa guard fence around the well hole. After the wall is positioned withinthe well, the radially adjustable ice wheels for portability in movingfrom one work area to another. A cylindrical cage is disposed within theframe and is adjustably supported, whereby it may be leveled to a truevertical position in the event the ground area is not completely levelat the working location. A wall positioning tool is axially disposedwithin the cage, and winch means are secured to the frame of theapparatus and connected to the wall positioning tool through a flexiblemember in the form of a cable or the like.

Wall supporting means are coupled to a lower portion of the wallpositioning tool and extend radially therefrom at a vertical leveldisposed below the lower end of the cage. The wall supporting means areadapted for radial adjustment from a normal diameter, equal to or lessthan the diameter of the cage, to an operating diameter greater than thediameter of the cage. Actuating means are provided in the apparatus forcontrolling this radial adjustment from the ground level. With such aconstruction, the wall supporting means may be actuated to the operatingdiameter in order to position the sectional wall within the well hole,and thereafter the wall means may be contracted radially inward to thenormal diameter for withdrawal from the well hole. I

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by.reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferredembodiment of the apparatus for performing the method of the invention,and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a cesspool hole with the wallpositioning tool disposed therein and the wall supporting means extendedto the operating diameter; and,

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the wall positioning tool taken in thedirection of the arrows 3-3 in Figure 2.

In Figure 1 there is shown a cesspool wall installing apparatuscomprising a frame 10mounted on wheels 11, whereby the unit may beeasily moved to different working areas. The frame 10 includes a basestructure 12 from which extend upwardly angled uprights 13 and endmembers 14. A cross member 15 forms the upper portion of the frame 10and is connected to the angled uprights 13 and end members 14 at theirupper ends.

A winch 16 may be mounted on a suitable bracket (not shown) provided onone of the end members 14 of the frame. The winch 16 includesconventional gearing 17 and a handle 18 for manual operation. It isevident,

however, that the winch 16 may be powered with an elecmeans arecontracted radially inwardly and removed from tric motor or otherdriving means if desired.

A cable 19 is connected to the winch 16 and passes upwardly over apulley 20 secured to the cross member 15, to thereafter pass downwardlyabout another pulley 21 to a movable pulley 22. The end of the cable 19passes up from the pulley 22 and is appropriately secured to the crossmember 15. The movable pulley 22 is in turn coupled to a U-bracket 23,shown more clearly in the view of Figure 2. The U-bracket 23 is fastenedto the upper end of the wall positioning tool indicated generally at 24.

A cylindrical cage 25 is disposed within thev frame 10 in a verticalposition and is adjustably mounted on a hanger 26 connected to the crossmember 15 and provided 29, also secured to the and 3. The-wallpositioning tool-"24 l Qllldfii scoping ttubularimember ,30Mhaving. its

lower end positioned around an inner rod 31. A keyway 32 is provided inan upper portion of the rod 31, and is adapted to receivevadog 33 whichis pivotably: seemed as at 3,4 to. thevouteriperiphery'xof the tubularmember 30.: .Thus; in the: position shown in Figure 2, the tubularmember 30 andinnerrod 31 .are locked in an axial ;position, with respectto each other. A

In order to permit telescoping of the tube 301upwardly with:r.espec t tothe innerrod31, a rope 35 or the'like is attached to the dog, 33andmay-be pulled at the ground level to in turn, disengage-the. dogfrom thekeyway 32, whereby-:the outer tubularmember 30 is free'to slide-onthe-inner rod 31.'

Linkage arms 36 are hinged to the lower end of the: tubular member 30,as at 37,. and extend downwardly to lower hinges 38 coupled: totriangular sections 39: Preferably, four sets of linkage arms-36areemployechone member of eachset passing down along either side offins; 40 extending from the inner rod 31'to a rim section 41. i

The triangular sections39 are rotatably coupled at 42 to the fins 40andyare also desirably designed to be in paired relationship on eitherside of the fins 40 to corre-- spond with the sets of linkage arms 36.

The wall supporting means provided in the preferred embodiment comprisesa plurality of quadrantal plates-43,

shown clearly in Figure 3, hinged at 44 to the triangular sections 39;In the view of Figure 2-, the: plates43 are disposed in their radiallyextended position in order' to support the wall sections 45 beinglowered into thehole. In the view of Figure 3, the plates 43 are shown:by the solid lines in theirradially contracted'positionor normal(113.!1161161fbfiff8 operations have commenced, and by the: dotted linesin their expanded positions for the wall lowering step.

In operation, the apparatus is first positioned so that the bottom endof the rod 31 issolidly supported. Thereafter, the tubular member isallowed to impress its weight on the linkage arms 36 and actuate-thetriangularmembers-39 to force the quadrantal plates 43 radially-outwardto the dotted lineuposition of Figure 3. At 'thistime, the apparatus isbrought into position over the cesspool hole and the wall positioningtool 24 is lowered by the winch 16 and. cable 19 to a position slightlybelow the level of the cage 25, whereby it is free for movement to seekatrue vertical position; The cage 25 is thenverticallyleveled'- by theturn buckles 27 to be co-axial with the wall positioning tool 24. Thewall positioningtool- 24 may then be raised to alevel approximatelyaligned with the lower endof the cage 25; preparatory the plates 43around the outer periphery of the cage-25:. After the wall has beenformed to the 'height'of the cage125, ther-winoh16 may be operatedthrough the cable 4 wall asupportingplates 43 to move radially inwardlyout of position from underneath the wall sections 45. The plates 43 willthen be in the position shown by the solid lines in Figure 3 and thewall positioning tool 24 may be raised out of the hole by the winchmeans 16.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the method andapparatus of the present invention enable a more eflicientandsafe:procedure for installingcesspool walls or equivalent structures..In addition, the apparatus employed is of a rugged and durableconstruction requiring limited maintenance and yet being susceptible ofeconomical manufacture:=

It will be appreciated that various details of construction can bevaried without-departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, andthe invention, therefore,

is not to be thought of as limited to the particular preferredembodiment shown and described with respect to the drawings, but ratheris defined in accordance with the-scope'of the following claims;

' What-is claimed-is;

1. An apparatus forlocation' on the ground level-above a well hole anddesigned for the positioning of a=sectional" wall therein; saidapparatus comprising: a frameya cylindrical cage having a givendiameter; meansvertically supporting saidcage within said-frame'in anoperative p'osi-- tionover said well hole above said ground level suchthatsaid cage may serve" the dual function of agaugefor" formingsaid-wall to said given diameter and as a guard for -said hole-uponpositioning of said-wall therein; a wall positioning-tool axiallydisposed within said' 'cage; Winch-meanssecured to said frame'andconnected to said wall positioning tool'; wall supporting meanscoupled-to andfunotioning as apart of said wall positioning tool, saidWall supporting means being normally disposed below the lower' end ofsaid cage; actuating means on said'wall positioning toolforradiallyadjusting said wall supporting means-from a normal diameterno greater than said given diameter to an operating diameter greaterthan said'given diameter, whereby said wall supporting means may beactuated to said operating diameter for positioning-said sectional wallwithin said well hole and thereafter-contracted to said normal diameterfor withdrawal therefrom;-

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said" forlimitedrelativemovement thereto, in which said 'rela tive movement ofsaid upper member and said lo'wer-mem-- 19 to lower. thewallipositioning tool 24 withthe-blocks 45 stacked thereon down intoposition Within the hol'e;

Meanwhile, the cage 25 will remain stationary in position above theholeto act as protection against inadvertent falling of men or equipmentdown into thezcesspool. If thehole is deeper than the-length of the cage25,'additionaliwall sections 45 may be stacked in anarray aroundtheficage25 as the tool24 is lowered.

A bottom. plate-46 is-secured-to the lower end of the inner rod 31 andacts as a-stop when-it comes to rest on therbottom of thehole.Thereafter; the-rope 35' is actu i atedhu'pwardly, to in turnrotate thadog 33 about the" pivot point 34 and releasefit frornthekeyseat-32 ofthe innerr'od31. As a 'consequence-of this=action, withan:

upward-iforceappliedto the tubing 30' thelinkage arms 36: willib'elurged, upwardlys'to"thereby torce the-triangular plated-39 upwardly-tarthehinge points 38 cause the-"*- ber efiects the operation of saidactuating means.

i 3. Anapparatus according to claim 2, in which said actuating meansincludes a removable key member axially coupling and adapted to maintainsaid upper telescoping" member and said lower telescoping member instable relationshipiwhilesaid sectional wall is positioned in said well'hole.

4. An-apparatus'accordmg to claim 2, in which said" actuating meansincludes linkage means coupled between said, upper telescoping memberand said lowertelescoping membenfor radially; adjusting said wallsupportingmeans'.

in response .to said limited relative movement.

5. An-apparatus for location on the ground level above a wellholeanddesigned for the positioning of a sectional wall therein; saidapparatus comprising: a frame; a cylin dricalcage: having a givendiameter; means vertically supporting said cage within said'frame in anoperative positionoversaid well hole and above said ground levelsuchthat, said cage may serve the 'dualfunction of agauge;v for formingsaid wall tosaid given diameter andas a guard:

for ,said .hole upon positioning of said Wall therein; a wallpositioning tool axially disposed within said cage, said wallpositioning tool comprising an upper telescoping member and a lowertelescoping member coupled together for limited relati've movement;winch means secured to said frame and: connected to saidwall positioningtool; wall supporting' meansfunctioning as a part of saidwa-ll positioning tool and coupled to said upper telescoping memher and said lowertelescoping member, said wall supporting means being normally disposedbelow the lower end of said cage and comprising sector shaped membersadapted for radial expansion and contraction with respect to said wallpositioning tool; and, actuating means associated with said wallpositioning tool for effecting said expansion and said contraction inresponse to said relative movement.

6. An apparatus, according to claim 5, in which fins extend radiallyoutwardly from said lower telescoping member above said sector shapedmembers, and in which said actuating means includes linkage meanscoupled to each of said fins, to said upper telescoping member, and toeach of said sector shaped members.

7. An apparatus, according to claim 6, in which said linkage meanscomprises: linkage arms having their upper ends connected to said uppertelescoping member; triangular shaped members, each of which is coupledat one corner to the lower end of one of said linkage arms, and each ofwhich is coupled at a second corner to one of said fins, and each ofwhich is coupled at a third corner to one of said sector shaped members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,220,527 Martin Mar. 27, 1917 2,226,804 Carroll Dec. 31, 1940 2,650,477Stine Sept. 1, 1953 2,658,352 Haeg et al. Nov. 10, 1953

